Meter-testing block.



H. J. BLAKESLEE. METER TESTING BLOCK. APPuc/mou msn ocr.29.1915.

1,192,844. lnmtsfdAmr. L 1016.

H. I. BLAKESLEE.

MFH TESTING BLOCK.

APr'LNlTlON FD QUT. 29,1915.

1,192,844, Patented Auf. 1,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

fr. sra'rns TENT @Fares y HENRY J. BLAKESLEE, or HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

M ETR-TESTING BLCK Specifica tion 'ci Letters Patent.

Application filed October 29,1915. Seriallo. 58,540.

To all 'w kom it m'ay concor-n Be it known that ITHENRY J. BLAKESLEE,

v Ya citizen ofthe United States, residing at ,Hart-ford. in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new gand useful Improvement in `Meter-Tcsting Blocks, of which the following is a' si'iecifica-v tion of' a compact and cheap block of this character having the current. carryingr parts provided with binding posts and nuts for the` permanent connection of the ends of the service and load vWires and of theends of the meter leads,'. andprovided Vwit'h binding screws for .the temporaryeonne'ction ofV the testing instrument lcads,-th'e manipulation of which screws for the attachment of the testing instruments vautomatically resulting inl such a. condition of the circuits that the desired test canrea'dily-be made `without lia bility of accident 'or interruption of the service. 'This Objectis attained by providing the ends' of the conducting plates on the inA sulating base with suitablebindi'n'g posts and nutsv for the permanent attachmentl of the terminals ofthe regular service, load and meterl wires, and, with adjustable `binding screws for 4the temporary attachment of the leads to the testing instruments, some of these binding screws being so arranged that normally they act to keep the'mctei` current circuit closed, but as they arev manipi'ilated for connecting the tcstimgr instrument leads .they first permit the current to be shulnted lto the customers load and then the meijer current circuit tovconipletely open in such 'manner that the test caribe made without danger of short circuiting any of the lilies or allowing.,r such (low of the current as will injure any-ot the apparatus and-without intertop ing with vthe How of the current to the cus temer. I

This invention is adaptable for use with two or three wire D. C. or A. C. single oi" polyphase circuits, and for testing meters with full line potential or part potential, or with storage battery, or phantom loads, as the conditions require.

`Patented aug. 1v, 191e.;v

1 Figure 1 of the accompanying d-awi-ngs shows a plan of a meter testing connection block which embodies this cover being omitted.' Fig'. of the under a front view of .the block with fthej cover in invention, the 2 shows. a View section. Fig. 4 shows a section on ,the -pla-'ne indicated by the dotted lline 4-4 on Fig'l. Fig. 5 shows a section on the piane indicated by the dotted line 5 5 .on Fig. 1. shows a. diagrammatic representation of a two-wire circuit with the lmeter connections through the block in normal Service condition. Fig. 7. is a similar view showingthe connections on the block with 'the load shunted around the meter which is still'corii nected in the circuit. Fig. 8 shows the meter current coil entirely disconnected biit'theV load not interrupted. Fig. 9 showstiie'connectionsl when the meter is beingtestedby a standard and a phantom load, 'the regular side of the block. Fig. 3 shows customers load being. uninterrupted.v Fig.

1.0 shows the connections whenv aj 'polyp'liase4 meter is being .compared with a standard test meter.

The block illustratedhasconnectiions for'- the vattachment of the ltermina-ls.va-nd.' meter 10mi-S Of a Poli/phase circuit.' Themse-1 ef' this block is desirablyT made of porcelain with binding posts and vnuts 2, 3, 4,'.5,6, 7 and 8 along the top near-one side and bind-' ing posts and nuts 9, 10,' 1,1, `12, 13, 14 and 15 along the top near the other Side. The posts 2 and 9, 5 and 12, .f5-and 1 5, arer'espe'c'- tively connected by rigid conductingplates 16, 17 and 18. are connected with spring conducting-plates 19, 20,21 and 22, and the'binding posts 1Q, 11, 13 and 14 are connected with yoke-shaped blocks 23, 24. 25, 26` provided with thumb screws 27, 28,'29 and 302- W'h'en these-thumb screws are turned down, as theyare in normal use, they force the 'ends .of the spring conductorsvinto engagement with the lower parts of the yokes and keep conducting paths closed between the binding posts tol which they are connected. Yokeshaped blocks 31,

3'2- and 33, hearing thumb screws 34, 35 and I 3G, are mounted on the rigid' conducting The binding posts, 4, 6 and 7 roo plates 1G, 17 and 1S. Fastened on the top of Y the base adjacent to and projecting over the free ends of the spring plates 19, 20, 21 and 22 are plates 37, 38, 39 and 40. On the underside of the base the plate 37 is connectcd by a plate 41 with the binding post 4, the platex38 is connected by the plate 42 with with the binding post 6.

the-blinding post 3, the plate 39 is connected bythe plate 43 with the binding post 7, and thev plate 40 is connected by the plate 44 In normal use the thumbscrews 217, 28, 29

and 30 are turned down'so as to hold tlie' ends of the spring plates 19. 20. 21 and 22- engaged with` the yokes 23, 24, 25, 26. Tlien there are direct electric paths between the binding posts 3`snd 10, 4 andll, 6 and 13, i

7 and 14. When these screws are turned out the ends of the spring plates 19, 20,' 21 and 22 spring 'up and engage with the platesB'L' 38, 39 and 40. Under these conditions there still are conducting paths through the spring plates from the posts 3, 4, 6 and 7 to the posts 10, 1 1, 13 and A14,' but'tlrere are also' conducting paths through thesp'ring--plates and the cross connections between the posts 3 `and 4 and between the posts 6 and 7.- Further turning out of the thumb screws disengages themv from the spring'v plates and opens thepaths'to theposts 10, 1,1', 13 and 14. However, it is not until the posts 3 and 4 and 6 and 7 are cross connected that the connections -to the posts 10, 11, 13 and 14 areopened. 'f' M A lcover is 'arranged to inclose the' connections, and screws 46 with thumb nuts 47 are provided for-securing the cover in place. The screws are Vperforated for `sealing wires, but only when the. thumb screws are turned down andthe normal connections made can the cover be sealed in platee. In other Words,

if the normal service circuits are opened at nected 'with-fthe binding lposts 10 and 11 and ,Y through the-'posts 3 and"4 with the line. 50

Under normal conditions, as shown yin Fig. 6, the screws 27r and 28 are turned down so as to force theV en'ds of the" spring plates A19"a`nd 2O into'eontact Withitheyokes that are vconnected with the binding posts 10 and 11. As indicated, under these conditions there is no connection between the binding posts 3` and 4 except throughfthemeter cur` rentcoil. If the meter is to be tested the screws 27 and 28 are turned out.' This allows the ends of the springs 19 and 20'to rise into contact with the pla-tes 37 and 38, as shown in Fig.`7', and establish a cross conneetion between the bindlng'posts 3 and 4 through the plates 41 and 42. As indicated, under these conditions while the load is Anected on one side with the 1ine t shunted past theA meter, the meter current kcoil is still in the circuit as a result of the contact of the screws 27 and 28 with the ends of the spring plates. On further turn- "ing out of the screws, as' shown in Fig. 8,

all connection from the line to the meter current-coil is broken. When the screws are turnedl -out the load is automatically short circuited, or shunted around the meter, Y

before it is possible to open the connectionslto the current-coil of the meter, so that at no time is the flow of service current to the customer interrupted.

In orderto'fmake the test posts 2 und 5 through'the mediumof the thumbrscrews 34 and 35, and -thecu-rrent-coil terminals 48 and 49. of the rtry standard and phantom load are conneeted with the yokes 23 and 24 to which the mtercurrentn coil terminals are connected, byjpmeans of the thumb screws 27 and 28. These termi nals 48 and 49 are madevof such 'thickness that when they are clamped inv position the ends' of the screws 27 and 28'cannot any .possible chance get into contact wit the ends of the spring conductors 19 and 20. Fig. 9. i In Fig. 10 the block is diagrammatically represented as interposed between .a--poly-l phasercircuit and; meter, with the current for the current-coils of the meter taken 'from current transformers on the mains. Under these conditions one current transformer C. 'lilies its terminals connected with the binding posts 3 and 4, and one of the current-l coils of the meter P. M. has itsterminals connected with the binding posts mandI 11. The terminals of the other Icurrenttrans former C. T. are connected with thehinding posts 6 and 7, and the terminals of the y 1.1@

other. cnrrentfcoil o the meterV aljeconnected with the binding posts 131e with a phantom load, the vcurrentscoil of the meter'lbeing cut.` out asl described, the potential terminals of. a rotary standard. R. S. and of the phantom load P. L. are connected -withfthe binding' The potential-coils of the meter lare conf:

thebindingposts 2fa'nd9, on the. ot through thebindinglposts S'and 15, Yand in the middle through theliiidmgpo'sts 5 and 12. When connected iii-this manner. inlordcr to test a meter with-current fromllthe'wline the'currentcoils of thefmeter :tradisconnected by turning 'out'thescrews/27,1528, 29

and 30. This is accomplished, as previouslydescribed, without interrupting theliljhvfof current to the load. The` bindingfpoets's.'f2.'`

and 10 are then bridged'by a conneetip'nj() and the binding posts 8v and 14 are bridged by a connection 51.` The terminals of, these connecting pieces are bound by the "screws 34 and 27, 36 and 30. 'The terminals cil the potential-coils of the standard S; are bound at one-sidc-under the screw 34, at thejother 1:6

1,192,8`fie side under the screw 36, and at the/middle under thefscrew 35;. The'terminals of the current-coils vof thef standard are connected by thescrews 28 'and 29 withthe binding posts 11"and*-ld- Soastoput them. in series withthe curren cilsl-of'{'t he -meten The other terin-inalsfif'off thefcurrent-coils of the standard vare connected" with the-knownload L. in, theusual'mannen Y; y

With this block ldi' rentgtypes'ol'me'ters, used uiiderlth'efil' commercial conditi ons, inay be convenientlyandsaelytested in the desired?wl y'wi'thout inxanyf'case in- Theinvention 'claimed -is i. A meterl"-testihg:=-bi sck1rhaving abuse, binding posts along-one -side` forthe tach'- inent of lineterminals; -bindi-ng posts along the other side v`for -thef-atta'ehment ofmeter leads, conductors 'connecting' the' respective binding posts`,'atlleast one'ofsai'd conductors being offspring-metal,'a'.binding screw vengaging n'd-liolding-the spring conductor s o that the conducting --pathf-is -normallyf =closed side for' the attachment of-nieterv leads, rigid conductors '-*pernizn'ently "connecting the binding 'posts' forv the L'potential circuit,

spring conductors 'normally connecting vthe binding posts fo'rJthe'current-circuit, binding sc'rcws" engaging the "spring lconductors andi-holding'them in-l closed "position, and cioss'coiiductors at-"oneend connected with the =binding-1posts t'o whic'hthc spring con-v ductor's are"conne cted,-and at the other end arranged to be"'en'gaged' by"`the'spring conducto'rs when-the binding screws are-turned Vsoas to release the Spring conductors and` allowf'th'em Sto spring up'and open the normal circuit. l

3, A meter testing block having binding.,r postsv along-onesidc for they attachment of line`termina-ls, binding posts along the 'other side for the attachment of meter leads, rigid with its l:other en d "norliiilly'-fout Aof fengagecontact withthe springconductors line terminals, :binding 'posts'a'longzthe other A -line terminals, binding posts along the other lside for the attachment of meter leads,c0n

conductors permanently connecting the binding posts for the potential circuit, binding screws for the attachment of testing instrument potential leads with the rigid conductors, spring conductors normally vconiiecting the binding posts for the currentcir`;

cuit, binding screws for the attachment of testing instrument current leads, connected with the spring conductors', saidv last 'mein tioned binding screws,` when turned down, engaging the spring conductors and holdingr vthem with the, cur-rent circuit closed, and

When'turned up, allowing the spring c0nd'uctors to spring up and open the current circuit, and cross .conductors with one endv connectedl with the binding posts to which :the spring conducto1s are' connected and with their other ends'adaptedtobe' engaged ductors permanentlyconnectin'g the bindV-v `ing posts for the ,potential circuit, spring conductors normally connecting the binding posts for the'current cireuit, b\indi ng screws engaging the lspring conductors and holding them in closed position,v and a cross conductor'with one end connectedv with ai bind-A ing post to which aspri-ng conductor. is connected and with its other-.end adapted tobe engaged by the otherspring-conductor when itsbinding screw is turned soyth`at it may spring up, saidvbindngsc're'wsbeing capable g of-complete disengagement from the spring "conductors, and#testing..-iiistrument lead ter- -rniinals of such thickness 'that they? can be conneted .by -Said bindinglscrewg will-,how Possibility of the binding screws coming in leads are attached.

5. A meter testing block having binding posts along one side for-theattachm'ent of duct-ors permanently connecting the binding posts for the potential circuit, spring conductors connecting the'binding posts for the current circuit, and bindinfr screws, when when the llt! turned in, engaging the spiing conductors and holding them infclosed position, and when turned out and disengaged from the Spring conductors, releasing them so that they will spring out and openthc current- 6. meter testing block having contacts adapted to be connected with meter leads, spi-ing conductors adapt-cd to be connected with service leads, cross conductors adapted to be connected with service leads, and binding screws adapted to force the spring con'- ductois into engagement with saidcontacts, or allow the spring conductors to yield from said contacts intoengagement with said cross conductors. l.

7. A meter testin block ha'ving binding screws, spring con ucting members, cross conductors and testing terminal connectors 'combined to connect a meter and a main line circuit s o that nected in the main circuit, but when the binding screws confine the testing terminal conductors the meter will be disconnected from the main circuit, but the main circuit will be uninterrupted.

meter lead,v a binding Y normally holding-theA springxconductor with the path between ranged to be engaged by the spring .condi-xc# tor when it is released bythe binding screw nalS.' 

